Celebrate Read Across Chattanooga from March 4 to March 8 "You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book to read to a child.”

United Way of Greater Chattanooga is celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday by encouraging kids to get excited about reading. It's all part of Read Across Chattanooga, a local celebration of "Read Across America" week. Kids need to read to succeed, so we’re making reading fun. Kids love Dr. Seuss, but many children don’t get to experience his zaniness outside of the classroom. United Way and its partners are bringing this event to the public, at no charge, so all children can enjoy “The Cat in the Hat” and other Dr. Seuss classics.

March 4 through March 8, United Way will hold a daily book reading event at the Center Stage in Hamilton Place Mall. Tuesday, March 4 through Friday, March 7, there will be a daily story hour from 6 to 7 p.m. each evening and visits from the Cat in the Hat, along with free book enrollments and a book-related literacy activity for kids and their parents to enjoy.

Local celebrities will be on hand to help with readings and will share their favorite books from Dr. Seuss's library of work. Bring your children to hear one of their favorites, or maybe reminisce while listening to a favorite story from your childhood.

The week will culminate on Saturday, March 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a big birthday party to honor Dr. Seuss. There will be snacks, book readings, arts & crafts, prizes while they last, a visit from the Cat in the Hat, a visit from the Bookmark Fairy, a free Dr. Seuss book – while supplies last – for the first 500 children who visit, and we’ll have a birthday sing-a-long for Dr. Seuss.

Then, next to the Play area in the mall, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., children under age 5 can get a learning checkup. Families also get a voucher for a free family pass to the Creative Discovery Museum for every child who has a learning checkup.

Read Across Chattanooga Event Calendar:

Tuesday, March 4, from 6 to 7 p.m.: celebrity readings at Center Stage, a visit by the Cat in the Hat, & free book enrollments. WTCI TV 45 will have games and activities based on the book of the day, “Oh the Places You’ll Go.”

Wednesday, March 5, from 6 to 7 p.m.: celebrity readings at Center Stage, a visit by the Cat in the Hat, & free book enrollments. The Chattanooga Library will have arts & crafts activities based on the book of the day, “Horton Hears a Who.”

Thursday, March 6, from 6 to 7 p.m.: celebrity readings at Center Stage, a visit by the Cat in the Hat, & free book enrollments. The Chattanooga Zoo will have arts & crafts activities based on the book of the day, “If I Ran the Zoo.”

Friday, March 7, from 6 to 7 p.m.: celebrity readings at Center Stage, a visit by the Cat in the Hat, & free book enrollments. Barnes & Noble will have arts & crafts activities based on the book of the day, “Green Eggs and Ham.”

Saturday, March 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: cookies, celebrity story time at Center Stage, a visit by the Cat in the Hat, free book enrollments for children under age 5, Birthday sing-a-long for Dr. Seuss, a visit from the Bookmark Fairy, arts and crafts activities based on the books and more. The book of the day is “The Cat in the Hat.”

Hamilton Place Mall, WDEF TV 12, the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Sunny 92.3 FM, WTCI TV 45, The Chattanooga Zoo, The Chattanooga Library, and Barnes & Noble are partnering with United Way to bring this event to the public and provide literacy activities for children.

All these events are free to the public and everyone is invited to attend. For more information about United Way or this event, please call 423.752.0300.